Halloween events in 2020 will be quite different to what we are used to: Regional lockdowns mean that the annual costume party or going trick-or-treating are off the table for most, but Eventbrite search data indicates that consumers of all ages continue to look for new ways to scare the bejaysus out of them this Halloween: during the month of October, one out of five UK event searches on Eventbrite was related to Halloween (data as of October 16). And British event creators are making sure that fans of Ghosts and Goblins aren’t left wanting.
Virtual Halloween events
At Eventbrite UK, we have registered a 20X increase in virtual Halloween events on Eventbrite compared to 2019: more than a quarter of the Halloween events we host on our platform this year are taking place online (data as of October 16). Creative takes on virtual Halloween events include spooky story readings, mask and cake making workshops, virtual Halloween parties, pumpkin carving competitions, interactive quizzes, and virtual Spooktacular show – we’ve put together a whole collection of virtual Halloween events for all ages.
Socially distanced events
Not all vampires, ghouls and zombies are roaming virtually this year, though, and creators have come up with various offline, in-person events that facilitate real life scares at a distance, like outdoor scary walks, pumpkin picking experiences, and scary movie screenings. Various UK heritage sites have created timed entry slots for spooky storytelling nights and ghost hunts in their ‘haunted’ estates.
Drive-in events
We’ve previously called drive-ins the surprise event trend of 2020, and why would Halloween be an exception? This year, local restrictions permitting, UK event goers can get spooked at various Halloween themed drive-in cinemas and a drive-in horror maze).
“People have a fundamental need to connect and celebrate together, and although Halloween will look different this year, Eventbrite creators have shown their ability to adapt and deliver meaningful experiences despite the pandemic,” shared Tamara Mendelsohn, CMO at Eventbrite. “Some creators have shifted entirely online, some are hosting in-person events in new safe, social-distanced ways, and some are creating a hybrid of the two, all of which we’re seeing via current Halloween events on the platform.”
It’s events like these from creators all over the country that prove there are still plenty of ways we can come together for Halloween this year.
